The Syndicate

Good job guys!

Very amazing work to the handful of you who bothered trying this challenge. I always appreciate a good decode session!

And to the rest of you...

And gleams could be sneaks?

ETA: Oh, I like clomps, nice one.

And yeah, let's try "breaks in" but if they say no again, let's use "sneaks in" as the next try. I like yours better.

And if singing fails, we can try sighing.

In case of consumed... all we have is ~~~~~~e~. It likely ends in d, so ~~~~~~ed. Oh! Finished!

Yeah, slot in place of slit seems pretty straightforward. And I suppose it could be "only sound in my day" after all.

Any thoughts on a replacement for cursing? I thought of singing and sighing, I don't feel super-sold on either, but we have zero letters to work with, there.

Prisoner 813142 wrote:Phenomenal work. If for some reason we have not solved it and get another letter, do you think an additional vowel is in order or would you like to establish the presence of a particular consonant?

There are definitely a few too many guesses involved, still. The word "slipping" may not be right, though I can't find a decent alternative, so it likely is. I'm flat out guessing at cursing, but it feels like it fits. So if they say it isn't right, and offer another letter.... I'm not sure. "P" is fairly popular, and would confirm slipping. "S" would help with cursing/sighing.

A vowel may be best, because a few spots where we have "of" could be "in"... "sound of my day" could be "sound in my day".

So P/S/I would work for me.

@WARDEN or HOSTS: how does this work? If we do not hear from you do we assume it is wrong? Can we submit multiple times? Do you guys say nothing until day ends?

ETA: ahh....

Could we have it?????


I hear the footsteps approaching. It's the only sound of my day as they climb steadily towards me, and then the light that gleams in as the small slit is opened. A grating sound as the aluminum tray is slid inside before the slit is slid back into place and the little lock engages with a click. The food is warm but mostly flavorless, nothing to write home about. Not that I could write home, they won't give me pen and paper, or light, for that matter. It is later, after the food is consumed and my tray taken away that the emptiness of this place really closes in. That's when you really start slipping.At first you pass the time with thinking,then you find the silence too much and start cursing, eventually you end up talking to yourself. Until the voices start talking to you...

Singing, sighing... ooo, maybe cursing???

Singing?

We are going to have to flat out guess that last, blank, 7 letter word. It isn't talking, since there is no "L", but it has to be something like it where the person starting making noises to kill the silence. It likely ends in "ing". So four letter word plus -ing that means talking sort of, but not talking, and it can't have an A, E, L or T. I think that's right. I've tried thesaurus.com or whatever and so far, I've got nothing. That word is going to kill us.

I hear the footsteps approaching. It's the only sound ~~ my day as they climb steadily towards me, and then the light that gleams in as the small slit is opened. A grating sound as the aluminum tray is slid inside before the slit is slid back into place and the little lock engages with a click. The food is warm but mostly flavorless, nothing to write home about. Not that I could write home, they won't give me pen and paper, or light, for that matter. It is later, after the food is consumed and my tray taken away that the emptiness of this place really closes in. That's when you really start slipping.At first you pass the time with thinking,then you find the silence too much and start ~~~~~~~, eventually you end up talking to yourself. Until the voices start talking to you...

Prisoner 277058 wrote:A grating sound as the aluminum tray is slid inside before the slit is slid back into place

Nice!

I hear the footsteps approaching. It's the only sound ~~ my day as they climb steadily towards me, and then the light that gleams in as the small slit is opened. A grating sound as the aluminum tray is slid ~~~~~e ~e~~~e the slit is slid back into place and the little l~~~ escapes into a ~l~~~. The food is warm but mostly flavorless, nothing to write home about. Not that I could write home, they won't give me pen and paper, or light, for that matter. It is later, after the food is consumed and my tray taken away that the emptiness of this place really closes in. That's when you really start slipping.At first you pass the time with thinking,then you find the silence too much and start ~~~~~~~, eventually you end up talking to yourself. Until the voices start talking to you...

I hear the footsteps approaching. It's the only sound ~~ my day as they climb steadily towards me, and then the light that gleams in as the small slit is opened. A grating sound as the aluminum tray is slid ~~~~~e ~e~~~e the slit is slid back into place and the little l~~~ escapes into a ~l~~~. The food is warm but mostly flavorless, nothing to write home about. Not that I could write home, they won't give me pen and paper, or light, for that matter. It is later, after the food is consumed and my tray taken away that the emptiness of this place really closes in. That's when you really start slipping.At first you pass the time ~~t~ t~~~~~~~,then you? ~~~~ the silence t~~ ~~~~ and start ~~~~~~~, eventually you end up talking to yourself. Until the voices start talking to you...

Someone else had the idea of "day" where I had "ear", I stuck it back in as it seems likely to be correct. But would it be "of my day"? "in my day"?

What we thought was "lamb" could be "lock", like a lock on the little slit that they slide the food through. "Escapes" may not thus be correct.

I hear the footsteps approaching. It's the only sound in my ~a~ as they climb steadily towards me, and then the light that gleams in as the small slit is opened. A grating sound as the aluminum tray is slid ~~~~~e ~e~~~e the slit is slid back into place and the little l~~~ escapes into a ~l~~~. The food is warm but mostly flavorless, nothing to write home about. Not that I could write home, they won't give me pen and paper, or light, for that matter. It is later, after the food is consumed and my tray taken away that the emptiness of this place really closes in. That's when you really start slipping.At first you pass the time ~~t~ t~~~~~~~,then you? ~~~~ the silence t~~ ~~~~ and start ~~~~~~~, eventually you end up talking to yourself. Until the voices start talking to you...

D'oh.

Prisoner 920077 wrote:I hear the footsteps approaching. It's the only sound in my ~a~ as they climb steadily towards me, and then the light that gleams in as the small slit is opened. A ~~at~~~ ~~~~~ a~ the al~~~~~~ t~a~ ~~ ~l~~ ~~~~~e ~e~~~e the ~l~t ~~ ~l~~ ~a~~ ~~t~ ~la~e and the little l~~~ escapes into a ~l~~~. The food is warm but mostly flavorless, nothing to write home about. Not that I could write home, they won't give me pen and paper, or light, for that matter. It is later, after the food is consumed and my tray taken away that the emptiness of this place really closes in. That's when you really start slipping.At first you pass the time ~~t~ t~~~~~~~,then you? ~~~~ the silence t~~ ~~~~ and start ~~~~~~~, eventually you end up talking to yourself. Until the voices start talking to you...

I hear the footsteps approaching. It's the only sound in my ~a~ as they climb steadily towards me, and then the light that gleams in as the small slit is opened. A ~~at~~~ ~~~~~ a~ the al~~~~~~ t~a~ ~~ ~l~~ ~~~~~e ~e~~~e the ~l~t ~~ ~l~~ ~a~~ ~~t~ ~la~e and the little l~~~ escapes into a ~l~~~. The food is warm but mostly flavorless, nothing to write home about. Not that I could write home, they won't give me pen and paper, or light, for that matter. It is later, after the food is consumed and my tray taken away that the emptiness of this place really closes in. That's when you really start slipping.At first you pass the time ~~t~ t~~~~~~~,then you? ~~~~ the silence t~~ ~~~~ and start ~~~~~~~, eventually you end up talking to yourself. Until the voices start talking to you...

Yeah it was a bit surprising to find out that the quote ha ms absolutely nothing to do with mafia stuff so my strategy on the letters backfired but I think we are doing pretty well.

As for the poll yesterday, like I said, I don't mind admitting I was looking for a prize!

[quote="Prisoner 277058"][quote="Prisoner 920077"]I hear the footsteps approaching. It's the only sound in my ~a~ as they climb steadily towards me, and then the light that gleams in as the ~~all plot ~~ ~~e~e~. A ~~at~~~ ~~~~~ a~ the al~~~~~~ t~a~ ~~ ~l~~ ~~~~~e ~e~~~e the ~l~t ~~ ~l~~ ~a~~ ~~t~ ~la~e and the little l~~~ escapes into a ~l~~~. The food is warm but mostly flavorless, nothing to write home about. Not that I could write home, they won't give me pen and paper, or light, for that matter. It is later, after the food is consumed and my tray taken away that the emptiness of this place really closes in. That's when you really start slipping.At first you pass the time ~~t~ t~~~~~~~,then you? ~~~~ the silence t~~ ~~~~ and start ~~~~~~~, eventually you end up talking to yourself. Until the voices start talking to you...

A few bits that maybe could be resolved...

"??all" in crossword helper sites has only these choices: myall, scall, shall, small, spall, stall.

In light of this, I think it must be small? I'm not sold on "plot" though, as "slot" and "slit" make as much sense.

Also, I put ~~le~~e as silence, as crossword helpers offer no other real possible alternative.

Prisoner 277058 wrote:I'll be more cognizant of that in the future.

Meh, we're all trying our best here, I don't care which way we do it. I only care about how few of us are trying.

We need to know which parts are still "being worked on". It makes more sense for the parts that seem 90%+ confident to just be written, so we can see where we need to concentrate by looking at the parts in dead red, to me!

I hear the footsteps approaching. It's the only sound in my ~a~ as they climb steadily towards me, and then the light that gleams in as the ~~all plot ~~ ~~e~e~. A ~~at~~~ ~~~~~ a~ the al~~~~~~ t~a~ ~~ ~l~~ ~~~~~e ~e~~~e the ~l~t ~~ ~l~~ ~a~~ ~~t~ ~la~e and the little l~~~ escapes into a ~l~~~. The ~~~~ ~~ ~a~~ but mostly flavorless, nothing to write home about. Not that I could write home, they won't give me pen and paper, or light, for that matter. It is later, after the ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~e~ a~~ ~~ t~a~ taken away that the emptiness of this place really closes in. That's when you really start ~l~~~~~~. At night ~~~ ~a~~ the t~~e ~~t~ t~~~~~~~,then you? ~~~~ the silence t~~ ~~~~ and start ~~~~~~~, eventually you end up talking to yourself. Until the voices start talking to you...

I think this is where we are at. I left the spots that don't seem certain in dead red. Please check for mistakes!

@Warden, is it possible you are missing an E in the first line? That sure seems like it should be "ear" to me....

I hear the footsteps approaching. It's the only sound in my ~a~ as they climb steadily towards me, and then the light that gleams in as the ~~all plot ~~ ~~e~e~. A ~~at~~~ ~~~~~ a~ the al~~~~~~ t~a~ ~~ ~l~~ ~~~~~e ~e~~~e the ~l~t ~~ ~l~~ ~a~~ ~~t~ ~la~e a~~ the little l~~~ e~~a~e~ ~~t~ a ~l~~~. The ~~~~ ~~ ~a~~ but mostly flavorless, nothing to write home about. Not that I could write home, they won't give me pen and paper, or light, for that matter. It is later, after the ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~e~ a~~ ~~ t~a~ taken away that the emptiness of this place really closes in. That's when you really start ~l~~~~~~. At night ~~~ ~a~~ the t~~e ~~t~ t~~~~~~~,then you? ~~~~ the silence t~~ ~~~~ and start ~~~~~~~, eventually you end up talking to yourself. Until the voices start talking to you...

I think this is where we are at. I left the spots that don't seem certain in dead red. Please check for mistakes!

And homie, there is nothing passive-aggressive about what I wrote, it's aggressive-aggressive. Anyone who doesn't bother helping with this is permanently going on my shit list.

Prisoner 509378 wrote:
I will bite your ear off and flush it down the toilet bucket. You know damned well that this prison operates on a multi-layered schedule, so quit protecting yourself with these tripe passive-aggressive attacks on absolutely anyone you can find to attack.

I have no idea what any of this means, but how about you decode something and then we'll talk, hmm?

I'm at work for now, will work on it more tonight, but guys, I don't think we're getting any letters. I'd bet we're stuck with what we've got.

Prisoner 740359 wrote:Excluded ear.. Put lamb in paranthesis, it could be wrong and it's kinda distracting me from thinking of other variants. This word "~l~~~~~~" could be repeating itself twice, second time after "That's when you really start...". Proofread to the best of my not-losing-my-mind abilities.

I hear the footsteps approaching. It's the only sound -- -- ~~~ as they climb steadily towards me, and then the light that ~~e~~~ ~~ ~~ the ~~~ll plot ~~ ~~e~e~. ~ ~~~t~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ the ~l~~~~~~ t~~~ ~~ ~l~~ ~~~~~e ~e~~~e the ~l~t ~~ ~l~~ ~~~~ ~~t~ ~l~~e ~~~ the little [lamb] e~~~~e~ ~~t~ ~ ~l~~~. The food is good? but mostly flavorless, nothing to write home about. Not that I could write home, they won't give me pen or paper, or light, for that matter. It is later, after the ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~e~ ~~~ ~~ t~~~ t~~e~ ~~~~ that the emptiness of this place really closes in. That's when you really start ~l~~~~~~. At night ~~~ ~~~~ the t~~e ~~t~ t~~~~~~~, then you? ~~~~ the silence t~~ ~~~~ ~~~ start? ~~~~~~~, eventually you end up talking to yourself. Until the voices start talking to you...

If new letters, I think we should definitely check if some of those S's and H's fit, for instance, and maybe get more. And another vowel.

I took out the "in my" that went with "ear" as the whole word grouping could be wrong.

The -l------ seems like it is likely a word ending in "ing". Like planning or something like that. I like the thought about plot being slot or slit. Light shining through a slit feels prison-y.

And kudos to whoever got the flavourless food, that's genius.

Also, if anyone feels that I misrepresented them on my list, please say so. I may have made a mistake, it's hard when we are all just numbers.

Just a note. If we fail these challenges, there are some repercussions.

So, considering how difficult this one is, I'd like to note that the following prisoners have contributed:

Prisoner 920077
Prisoner 277058
Prisoner 413022
Prisoner 208986
Prisoner 650829
Prisoner 740359

The following prisoners have commented on it but not contributed:

Prisoner 640326
Prisoner 813142

And the following haven't said anything:

Prisoner 379949
Prisoner 509378
Prisoner 513538
Prisoner 980854

Should we fail, I think this information will be useful. I will not be voting to remove anyone from the first list, and even those in the second are ok, I know some people aren't fans of the decode. But that third group? Yeah. The last groupa mugs who tried to ride my coattails ended up on their backs staring at the roof of the church #apologiestoDMX

Yes. As someone pointed out, my line with "ear" is wrong as there is no E there. Next time someone updates please take that bit out.

Prisoner 650829 wrote:Oh ok, I guess since we are using sock puppet accounts we get to be crass and vulgar.

Using various crossword helper sites etc. the only two words that seem to fit where I put climaxless are that one and flightless. I put the (?) because its such a specific word, I'd consider that speculative for now.

[quote="Prisoner 920077"]I hear the footsteps approaching. it's the only sound in my ear as they climb steadily towards me, and then the light that ~~e~~~ ~~ ~~ the ~~~ll plot ~~ ~~e~e~. ~ ~~~t~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ the ~l~~~~~~ t~~~ ~~ ~l~~ ~~~~~e ~e~~~e the ~l~t ~~ ~l~~ ~~~~ ~~t~ ~l~~e ~~~ the little lamb e~~~~e~ ~~t~ ~ ~l~~~. The ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~ but mostly climaxless(?), nothing to write home about. ~~t t~~t ~ ~~~l~ ~~~te ~~~e, t~e~ ~~~'t ~~~e ~e ~e~ ~~~ ~~~e~. ~~ l~~~t, ~~~ t~~t ~~tte~. ~t ~~ l~te~, ~~te~ the ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~e~ ~~~ ~~ t~~~ t~~e~ ~~~~ t~~t the emptiness of this place really closes in. That's when you really start ~l~~~~~~. ~t ~~~~t ~~~ ~~~~ the t~~e ~~t~ t~~~~~~~, t~e~ ~~~ ~~~~ the silence t~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~t~~t ~~~~~~~, eventually you end up talking to yourself. until the ~~~~e~ start talking to you...

I hear the footsteps approaching. it's the only sound in my ear as they climb steadily towards me, and then the light that ~~e~~~ ~~ ~~ the ~~~ll plot ~~ ~~e~e~. ~ ~~~t~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ the ~l~~~~~~ t~~~ ~~ ~l~~ ~~~~~e ~e~~~e the ~l~t ~~ ~l~~ ~~~~ ~~t~ ~l~~e ~~~ the little lamb e~~~~e~ ~~t~ ~ ~l~~~. The ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~t ~~~tl~ ~l~~~~le~~, ~~t~~~~ t~ ~~~te ~~~e ~~~~t. ~~t t~~t ~ ~~~l~ ~~~te ~~~e, t~e~ ~~~'t ~~~e ~e ~e~ ~~~ ~~~e~. ~~ l~~~t, ~~~ t~~t ~~tte~. ~t ~~ l~te~, ~~te~ the ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~e~ ~~~ ~~ t~~~ t~~e~ ~~~~ t~~t the emptiness of this place really closes in. That's when you really start ~l~~~~~~. ~t ~~~~t ~~~ ~~~~ the t~~e ~~t~ t~~~~~~~, t~e~ ~~~ ~~~~ the silence t~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~t~~t ~~~~~~~, eventually you end up talking to yourself. until the ~~~~e~ start talking to you...

I hear the footsteps approaching. it's the ~~l~ ~~~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ they climb steadily towards me, and then the light that ~~e~~~ ~~ ~~ the ~~~ll plot ~~ ~~e~e~. ~ ~~~t~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ the ~l~~~~~~ t~~~ ~~ ~l~~ ~~~~~e ~e~~~e the ~l~t ~~ ~l~~ ~~~~ ~~t~ ~l~~e ~~~ the little lamb e~~~~e~ ~~t~ ~ ~l~~~. The ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~t ~~~tl~ ~l~~~~le~~, ~~t~~~~ t~ ~~~te ~~~e ~~~~t. ~~t t~~t ~ ~~~l~ ~~~te ~~~e, t~e~ ~~~'t ~~~e ~e ~e~ ~~~ ~~~e~. ~~ l~~~t, ~~~ t~~t ~~tte~. ~t ~~ l~te~, ~~te~ the ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~e~ ~~~ ~~ t~~~ t~~e~ ~~~~ t~~t the emptiness of this place really ~l~~e~ ~~. That's when you really start ~l~~~~~~. ~t ~~~~t ~~~ ~~~~ the t~~e ~~t~ t~~~~~~~, t~e~ ~~~ ~~~~ the silence t~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~t~~t ~~~~~~~, eventually you end up talking to yourself. until the ~~~~e~ start talking to you...

Tweaked the "then" to "they" in the first line.

I hear the footsteps approaching. it's the ~~l~ ~~~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ then ~l~~~ steadily towards me, and then the light that ~~e~~~ ~~ ~~ the ~~~ll plot ~~ ~~e~e~. ~ ~~~t~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ the ~l~~~~~~ t~~~ ~~ ~l~~ ~~~~~e ~e~~~e the ~l~t ~~ ~l~~ ~~~~ ~~t~ ~l~~e ~~~ the little lamb e~~~~e~ ~~t~ ~ ~l~~~. The ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~t ~~~tl~ ~l~~~~le~~, ~~t~~~~ t~ ~~~te ~~~e ~~~~t. ~~t t~~t ~ ~~~l~ ~~~te ~~~e, t~e~ ~~~'t ~~~e ~e ~e~ ~~~ ~~~e~. ~~ l~~~t, ~~~ t~~t ~~tte~. ~t ~~ l~te~, ~~te~ the ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~e~ ~~~ ~~ t~~~ t~~e~ ~~~~ t~~t the emptiness of this place really ~l~~e~ ~~. That's when you really start ~l~~~~~~. ~t ~~~~t ~~~ ~~~~ the t~~e ~~t~ t~~~~~~~, t~e~ ~~~ ~~~~ the silence t~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~t~~t ~~~~~~~, eventually you end up talking to yourself. until the ~~~~e~ start talking to you...

I hear the footsteps approaching. it's the ~~l~ ~~~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ then ~l~~~ steadily towards me, and then the light that ~~e~~~ ~~ ~~ the ~~~ll plot ~~ ~~e~e~. ~ ~~~t~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ the ~l~~~~~~ t~~~ ~~ ~l~~ ~~~~~e ~e~~~e the ~l~t ~~ ~l~~ ~~~~ ~~t~ ~l~~e ~~~ the little lamb e~~~~e~ ~~t~ ~ ~l~~~. The ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~ ~~t ~~~tl~ ~l~~~~le~~, ~~t~~~~ t~ ~~~te ~~~e ~~~~t. ~~t t~~t ~ ~~~l~ ~~~te ~~~e, t~e~ ~~~'t ~~~e ~e ~e~ ~~~ ~~~e~. ~~ l~~~t, ~~~ t~~t ~~tte~. ~t ~~ l~te~, ~~te~ the ~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~e~ ~~~ ~~ t~~~ t~~e~ ~~~~ t~~t the emptiness of this place really ~l~~e~ ~~. That's when ~~~ really ~t~~t ~l~~~~~~. ~t ~~~~t ~~~ ~~~~ the t~~e ~~t~ t~~~~~~~, t~e~ ~~~ ~~~~ the silence t~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~t~~t ~~~~~~~, eventually ~~~ e~~ ~~ t~l~~~~ t~ ~~~~~el~. until the ~~~~e~ ~t~~t t~l~~~~ t~ ~~~...

Meh that's enough support I'd say.

Warden? I'll request T L E please.

I love me some decoding.

In my opinion, the best letters are those that highlight words key to mafia secrets. Thus "t" for "target", "l" for lynch, and a vowel is a must. "e" is the obvious choice, but "i" is good for a lot of words as well. So Mr. Warden, this is not an official request, just idle chatter, but gang, what do you think of T-L-E?